Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1887-10-21

sion OF glitter and show. Immense pictures
badly painted, carpets of the brightest posi-
bic colors and largest patterns, furniture
made rather for show than for usc-all told as
plainly as could be how Different was the
taste that now presided over the house.
waited some minutes In the smart draw
ing-room, and then the lady sailed in. Tall,
stout Gui rosy with a shrewd, naughty face,
forld and somewhat vulgar manner, a loud
and not very musical voice, deep sense OF
her own Importance aud grandeur-such was
the lady who was announced 10 me as Mrs.
De Courcy Evans. she overwhelmed me with
cylities; Sue was 50 del GIFTED to see me; she
considered herself 50 very fortunate in having
me for neighbour. she had been SO aux ous
--"For, MS you must be aware, my dear Miss
Fitzgerald, with young daughters / am
obliged to be very careful and select"
The young daughters made an agreeable
diversion. The bell was rung, and Thomas
was desired to summon Miss DE Courcy Evans
and Miss Arabella They were exact repro
ductions Of their mother-tall, proud girls,
not without some show OF beauty, but it was
Of bold and brilliant kind-cycs and hair as
dark as night cheeks that riyalled a damask
rose, and large smiling lips that revealed very
evidently anxious TO belong 10 the most tex
elusive Glass; They talked much about The
"set" they moved in. One represented 1t as
very wide, signing at the same time as though
she we're overwhelmed with the duties OF So
cety; the other called IL very select, and
looked as though | ought TO be honored by
her notice. In the course OF twenty minutes
conversation they mentioned the name OF
- L.. a "a.
being anxious to impress me with n due sense
OF their exalted position in society.
"Do YOU know Lady Solesp Mrs. Evans
asked, with an attempt at Indifference.
81 replied that had not that pleasure at
which she evidently pitied me very much.
Lady Soles is very particular" she re-
marked. 'She moves in one OF the best sets.
But | think m ght venture To say that she
would be pleased to know any friend OF ours
do not know whether rose or fell in their
estimation when declined the honor OF being
introduced under their auspices. | could not
help smiling to myself a. thought how de-
lighted they would be il they knew that | was
actually third cousin Of countess could
imagine how they would talk about me aud
INV noble connexions
Mrs. De Courcy Evans was very bland and
amisbe, and We made all our little neighborly
arrangements pleasantly together. The girls
became quite gushing when | took my leave,
and hoped we should become very good
friends. or the two | certainly liked Miss
Arabella the best, but, OF all horr DIE belngs
tn INV mind the most wretched ia the pdrv.nu
who cringes 10 and fawns upon those who
bear title ! could imagine Mrs. lie Courcg
Evans aud her daughters "worshippipg a lordn
aud tOadying "a lady. | mentally resolved TO
have AS little 10 do with them as posi- BILE.
but to my annoyance, when gave the par
,!culars Of my interview 10 Gerald, be was in
initely amused, and insisted upon my cult
waiting the acquaintance
"Your Mrs. Evans will b. worth Der weight
in gold to me, Nellie" be said nave seen
and studied almost every variety Of character,
but she seems 10 be original; ASK them all for
this evening"
When j ventured 10 suggest that 1t was
scarcely polite or kind TO invite people merely
to laugh at them, he looked grave and assured
me that he would respect all the good quail
ties that he observed, that he would never say
an unklnd or sarcastic word about or 10 the
ladies, but that he merely wished 10 see
specimen OF what he was quite sure Thack-
cray would call the British Female Snob." |
thought that he was better judge OF char
aeter than myself
II sent little note inviting Mrs De Courcy
Evans and her daughters to spend the evening
With US on Tuesday. | invited few other
friends to meet them; and we had very
pleasant evening pleasant ia every way
somehow ] hal an idea that Gerald was ex-
tracing fund of quiet amusement from his
al l. iN1r
and courtesy to them, but | faucicd he listened
with too much attention to Their anecdotes OF
LADY soles." The young ladies sang, and
their music was Just like themselves, snowy
and brilliant, but without a particle OF senti-
mcnt or fesling. They managed Verdfs
music we'll bat trembed when Miss Arabella
began one 81 Mcndels ohn's sweetest songs
Mrs. De Ceurcy Evans coutrivel during the
evening to scgpaint both my brother aud my
self with the fact that her papa" had held
IAN Office under Government One would
have thought from her tone that he had been
at least an influential statesman. Imagine
Gerald's delight aud amusement when, some
weeks aftcrward, be quite accidentiy learned
from q gentleman who had known her for
many years that the worthy man had been
neither more nor less than an exciscman ia a
small country town.
1t was not until some time afterwsrd that
we heard OF Mr.. De Courcy Evans had
noticed a small, tinld-looking man going out
OF No. every morning aud returning every
evening. He gave ne the idea OF one who
was frightened at the grandeur OF his own
house. lie was never present at any OF his
wife's parties, or 'soiyscf" as she delighted 10
call them The girls never spoke OF him. He
had large and very Important business in the
city, bu, in his own home be was most com.
pletely iguored aud overlooked No one was
ever told of his existence; he was mere
cipher, the money-getter Of the establishment,
not its master Once, when / inquired after
hIs health, Mrs. Evans sighed, and in the
midst OF long preamble, told me that his
ways were not her ways, aud made very
pathetic allu.ion 10 the "fste OF those who
married beneath them"
AS time wore on, and we gradually became
more acquainted with our neItdoor neigh
bours, ! saw how much OF their lives was
sacrificed TO show how much was false and
unreal, hos much was spent in avain struggle